FARMINGTON — Nestled among the petunias, sweet potato vines cascade down the front of Mooseville window boxes again this year.
The plants produce sweet potatoes, but they’re not for eating, said Corey Ellis, owner of the Main Street store.
Last year one tuber grew to 9 or so inches. He believes they must be off the ground and given the chance to hang down.
The plants, which Ellis considers decorative only, are available at most local greenhouses, he said. He likes flowers and grows a small garden in pallets near the store.
Ellis and employee Donna Bibeau tend the window boxes. Double window boxes, one above the other, allow for early spring flowers in the lower boxes followed by later flowers above.
A little feeding of the plants help them grow in abundance, Ellis said. This year, small beetles with dark-orange shells are eating the flowers and holes in the potato leaves. The beetles seem to like flowers but are leaving the vegetables alone, he said.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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- Sweet potato vines provide a lush cascade of leaves in window boxes at Mooseville on Main Street in Farmington. Owner Corey Ellis tends them.
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- Corey Ellis stands outside his Mooseville shop where flower boxes laden with petunias and sweet potato vines adorn the front of the Main Street business.
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- Donna Bibeau tends flower boxes laden with petunias and sweet potato vines outside Mooseville, a shop on Main Street in Farmington where she works.
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